Abstract
Global, national, and community quality of life (CQOL) indicators have a rich history in American and European social science research history since at least 1900. The primary purpose of this body of research has been to provide knowledge-based approaches to “community” intervention (variously defined to include neighborhoods, cities, provinces and states, nations, and othermajor geo-political regions). This chapter discusses the rich history of the social indicator and social reporting movements in Europe and the United States in utilizing social indicators and social reporting to: (1) advance quality of life theory, research, and practice; (2) explore the uses of social indicators and social reporting in identifying the nature, extent and severity of new and emerging social needs at various levels of political organization; (3) organize people and institutions to respond more effectively to those needs; and, (4) establish baseline measures against which CQOL current and future successes and failures can be assessed.
An earlier version of this chapter appeared as Estes, R. J. (2010), Global change and indicators of social development, in Weil, M. (Editor). Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd Edition. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage Press. The chapter has been fully revised and updated in tribute to Alex Michalos in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the advancement of the quality of life theory and research.
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Notes
- 1.
In this chapter “community” refers to varying units of analysis ranging from local neighborhoods, to cities and states, and to entire countries. The concept is broadly defined given the variety of approaches that have been developed to conceptualize and assess the nature of quality of life at various levels of measurement.
- 2.
Among other initiatives, the Great Society’s goals included: (a) launching the federal “war on poverty”; (b) providing significantly enhanced federal support for education; (c) establishing Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor; (d) undertaking broad-based housing reform; (e) a strong push for urban renewal; and (f) the provision of federal legal protections for African Americans deprived of voting rights by state regulations.
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Estes, R.J. (2016). Global Change and Quality of Life Indicators. In: Maggino, F. (eds) A Life Devoted to Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 60. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20568-7_11
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